TIPTON — Hidden Lake Gardens’ annual plant sale has become a can’t-miss event for area plant lovers over the past three decades, but although the sale takes just one day, preparation begins months in advance.

This year’s plant sale is on Saturday, May 10, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. — “or until the plants are gone,” said Jessica Goodrich, marketing and publicity coordinator for the 755-acre botanical garden and arboretum in northwestern Lenawee County.

“Last year, we sold out before noon,” Goodrich said. 

In the roughly three decades since it began, the Hidden Lake Gardens plant sale has grown to more than 1,500 plants every year and has become an essential destination for gardeners and plant lovers around the region.

Although the sale is held in May, preparations start in January. At that time, plant seeds are ordered and plans for the sale are made by Hidden Lake Gardens managing director Paul Pfeifer and gardener Jon Genereaux. 

“January ends up being a nice time for planning,” Goodrich said. “I was making a joke this year that we wished we had two Januarys, because it goes too fast.”

Planting for the sale begins in early April, Goodrich said. The plants are grown from seeds and “plugs” in plant trays, as well as from plant cuttings and divisions, many of which come from plants that are part of the Hidden Lake Gardens collection. 

The seeds and plugs are grown in a “poly house” that is located on the premises. Once the seeds are planted, they need to be watered daily and fertilized regularly to keep them growing. A team of 10 to 15 gardeners, both staff and volunteers, do the work, Goodrich said.

“Watering is a daily chore,” Goodrich said. “We have a monthly schedule where we put volunteers on and then staff fill in the gaps.”

The plants are evaluated in May, and “only the nicest plants go into the sale,” she added.

Annuals, perennials and conifers make up most of the sale, as well as perhaps a few trees, Goodrich said. This year, the plant sale will include hanging baskets that are grown on-site, instead of being ordered as they have been in the past.

“We’ll also have some small ornamental shrubs,” Goodrich added. “We’ll also have some of our dwarf conifers, similar to what we have in the Dwarf Conifer Collection.”

Goodrich emphasized that the volunteers who help with the gardening activities are a key element to what makes events like the annual plant sale successful. 

Hidden Lake Gardens hosted a volunteer fair in March, but anyone interested in volunteering can sign up anytime. 

“We take volunteers year round, so anytime anyone’s interested, it’s very easy to sign up to be a volunteer,” Goodrich said. Volunteer information can be found on the botanical garden’s website.

The annual plant sale was begun in the 1990s by volunteer Charlene Harris, who worked with dwarf and rare conifer enthusiast Justin C. “Chub” Harper to create the Harper Collection of Dwarf and Rare Conifers. Harper originally donated 300 specimens to Hidden Lake Gardns in the 1980s. The collection currently boasts over 500 varieties of rare and dwarf conifers.

Early plant sales featured shoots from some of the conifers in the Harper Collection. The idea was to make the rare and dwarf conifers more widely available, Goodrich said. 

The sale has evolved into what it is now, with annuals, perennials, vegetables and some trees being offered, in addition to conifers. There was no sale in 2020 and 2021 due to COVID-19. In 2022 and 2023, the plant sale came back and was combined with the annual hosta sale in late June, but that was too late in the growing season for some of the plants that had been part of the sale, so last year it was moved back to May. 

Hidden Lake Gardens is at 6214 Monroe Road (M-50), Tipton. For more information about Hidden Lake Gardens or the annual plant sale, call 517-431-2060 or go to hiddenlakegardens.msu.edu.

Upcoming events at Hidden Lake Gardens

Annual Hosta Sale (hosted by the Michigan Hosia Society) — Saturday, June 28, from 9 a.m. until sold out, in the lower level of the Visitors Center. At this sale, gardeners can choose from a wide variety of well-established Hostas in an array of sizes, shapes, and colors — including many unique varieties not commonly found in retail stores. Quantities are limited, and popular varieties tend to sell out fast — last year, all plants were sold in 30 minutes. The Hosta sale is cash or check only.

Art of Bonsai — Saturday, July 12, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. A chance to explore an explore art form that combines distinct discipline, persistence and quiet contemplation. The event includes a bonsai exhibition featuring trees from Michigan and beyond; vendors offering a wide variety of bonsai essentials; live demonstrations by highly skilled bonsai artists; and introductory workshops.

Run for the Hills — Saturday, Sept. 13, at 8 a.m. A morning run through the trails of Hidden Lake Gardens featuring scenic hills and vibrant autumn views. 

Fall Foliage Festival — Saturday, Oct. 18. A family-friendly fall celebration.

Under the Silver Moon — Friday, Dec. 12, and Saturday, Dec. 13. An evening walk featuring a glowing trail of luminaries that provides a chance to explore the beauty of light and shadow in nature.